With the inaugural 12-team CFP set to kickoff Friday night in South Bend, Indiana, we welcome Notre Dame alum and the voice of the L.A. Rams, J.B. Long, to the show with thanks to our founding partner 76.

J.B. called games this fall in the Pac-12, Mountain West and the NFL. His lens on the new look playoff, the current reality of college football and his insights on Washington State have tremendous depth and breath.

One of my dearest friends and one of the most talented voices in sports, J.B. brings a lens that is truly one of one.

We also dive into stories from South Bend - his as a student and broadcaster & mine as a player and coach, that neither of us have ever shared and you might get a laugh or two from them.

Jim Thornby and I also offer a conversation on the state of the Cougs, the transfer portal, how colleges are building out their NIL “matrix” and the slate of playoff games this weekend that are giving us some historical matchups.

Enjoy this weekend and be sure to follow along as I’ll be tracking each game in real time on Threads!

Much love,

Yogi

This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

Travis Hunter wins the Heisman Trophy and we have an Immediate Reaction podcast from New York City plus hear from each of the other 3 Heisman finalists in advance of the big event.

Join myself and Jim Thornby as we break down the Heisman from all angles, including:

* My experience at the actual event for the first time.

* The resurgence of West Coast players on the grandest stage in back to back years.

* A detailed dive into what it’s like to cover a Heisman.

* Travis Hunter’s emotional speech.

* Our award winners (spoiler, they don’t wear a helmet).

Also, be sure to check out this week’s Empty the Call Sheet as I share how Larry Fitzgerald coming in second impacted my lens on the Heisman forever.

Much love,

Yogi

This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

What is going on in recruiting right now?!

This year the portal is seeing big name players who I would have never imagined entering and now exploring new homes in college football.

Before creating our own opinions here at Y-Option we had to talk to the expert of all things recruiting, Brandon Huffman, who joined the podcast thanks to our founding partner 76.

Brandon is the National Recruiting Editor for 247Sports and one of the most genuine and talented humans I know. He has joined this show every year for quite some time to share his insights into the Early Signing Period, recruiting and the future of college football.

This episode is a little different.

We spent 80% of the time talking about the new-look portal, agents and some guidance on how to navigate it all. We also gained expertise around the Ducks, Trojans, Bruins, Huskies and more West Coast teams as the Early Signing Period was last week and Portal Palooza is in full effect.

While Brandon’s insights are golden, how he continues to inspire the sporting community with the Avery Huffman DIPG Foundation, in honor of his daughter Avery, is incredibly powerful. It was established in 2016 and grows stronger by the day.

While we all are extremely busy during this time of the year please take a moment to learn more about Avery’s story, and how the Huffman family continues to impact people across the globe through this foundation. Please visit averystrongdipg.org and spread the word about Avery and how she continues to live on in so many beautiful ways.

#AveryStrong

Much love,

Yogi

This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

The CFP bracket is set.

Some are thrilled, some are frustrated and a few are still politicking. Those of us on the West Coast are pretty happy, and rightfully so with Oregon, ASU and Boise State all receiving first round byes.

The Heisman finalists are also set and prior to departing for NYC, we had 1997 Heisman Trophy finalist Ryan Leaf join Y-Option, thanks to our founding partner 76. We dove into his first trip to The City That Never Sleeps while also learning about his post-event celebration that included his father singing alongside some of college football’s all-time greats as the sun was rising.

He also shared his intimate thoughts on perspective, as last week was the 10-year anniversary of him walking out of prison.

The CW Sports college football analyst detailed his 2024 season in the booth with Y-Option alums Ted Robinson and Nigel Burton, as this trio called the Washington State at Oregon State game a few weeks ago.

Jim Thornby and I take a look back on Championship Weekend, as both of us were in Indy for the Big Ten Championship game and look forward to the bracket that is top heavy with West Coast teams.

Hope all of you get a chance to exhale for a day or two as this has been a season to remember on so many levels.

Much love,

Yogi

This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Championship week is upon us, Early Signing Period is underway and Heisman voters have their ballots.

Welcome back to Y-Option, where we bring you college football content through the lens of the West Coast! Today, Jim Thornby and I break down the state of the most recent College Football Playoff rankings and how the dominos could impact the West Coast in college football.

Fresh off my trip to Eugene, I also share insights from sitting down with Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Dillon Gabriel as we take a deep dive into the Big Ten title game with our guest Rhett Lewis, with thanks to our founding partner 76.

Speaking of Rhett, his podcast BLeav in Big Ten is a go-to source for all things B1G and we did a little home and home podcast this week, with our conversation appearing on both shows. Rhett reflected on the improbable run that his Indiana Hoosiers have been on and what to expect from Penn State against the Ducks.

Finally, I shared my 10-point scale on how I vote for the Heisman.

For the 870 voters, maybe this will help you out as you decide who should hoist that trophy next week. I’d love to learn how you vote as well, as I think the responsibility of our vote deserves thoughtfulness vs. regionality bias.

A reminder that the definition of the Heisman is awarded to the “Outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.”

With that, here is my 10-point voting scale:

* Competitive dominance

* Power 4 filter

* Would I pay money to see player prepare, practice, perform?

* Can they process?

* Their It Factor: making your presence felt and elevating the performance of those around you - this comes from conversations with their coaches/teammates

* Injury factor: when were they and how many injuries around them/their team on the field

* Did you win your conference?

* Analytics

* Integrity off the field: classroom/community

* Performance on ‘Big Stages’ - a real time grade (1-5) and a film study post-game

As always, thanks for the support. Jim and I are off to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Champ Game and much more. Be sure to tune into Big Ten Network for our coverage and Y-Option on social for behind the scenes content.

Much love,

Yogi

This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Championship Week is upon us, as is Early Signing Day, as is the coaching carousel, as is the offseason for some.

Not here at Y-Option. We are going for it! And when it’s 77 degrees out West, we are doing it with board shorts on.

Thanks to our founding partner 76, today we welcome in Doug Lesmerises, creator and host of Kings of the North, the lead podcast covering college football through the lens of the North. Doug has been an expert on all things Big Ten Football for decades and today we took a look back at the Ohio State and Michigan game, as well as a look forward to Oregon and Penn State. We have a thoughtful conversation around Ryan Day, postgame flag planting and who we trust the most in college football. (Spoiler, it’s the Ducks)

Jim Thornby and I also dive into our weekly Go Go Go Awards, current coaching changes and I give a blunt assessment of the Arizona Wildcats, as well as the ridiculousness of the transfer portal and quarterback demands.

It’s a fun conversation, full of emotion, energy and hopefully insight into college football from the lens of the West Coast.

I’m off to Eugene to sit down with Dan Lanning and study film with Dillon Gabriel. More on that and Championship Weekend this week at www.Y-Option.

As always, thanks for the love and support!

Yogi

This podcast is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

It’s a week full of rivalry games, College Football Playoff implications and most importantly Turkey Bowl games in your backyard. Anyone else already claim “all-time QB”?

With that said, we bring you a special Thanksgiving episode of Y-Option, thanks to our founding partner 76, with a unique guest in Big Sky commissioner Tom Wistrcill.

Commissioner Wistrcill is in his 5th year leading the Big Sky and this weekend they kick off their postseason with 5 of his schools in the FCS Playoffs. He shares insight into his leadership philosophy, the impact he thinks the CFP will have on college football, the state of roster management, the trickle up & down effect in college football, the Pac-12 rebuild and what the next move should be in the chaotic world of college football.

It’s a powerful discussion from someone who is in the rooms where meaningful decisions are made. As FBS football changes shape in a matter of weeks, Commissioner Wistrcill offers a lens from someone who has worked in the Big Ten and been an FBS Athletic Director and is now leading the top conference in FCS.

In addition, Jim Thornby and I explore some hot topics with a thoughtful lens. For instance, did Travis Hunter get snubbed for the Thorpe Award? What’s happening in the Big 12? Will Cal take down SMU and how would that impact the ACC’s standing in the CFP? Will UW roll with true freshman Demond Williams at QB against the top team in the land, Oregon? A reminder that the CFP is not an invitational and if you lose 3 games you are not given a pass. Plus, I give some major takeaways from my first season in the B1G and my thoughts on the massive showdown in Columbus with Ohio State hosting Michigan.

We finish off by sharing what we are thankful for (spoiler, it’s YOU!).

Pre-Thanksgiving I’m about to embark on baking a few pies and post-Thanksgiving, I’m off to the Rose Bowl to call one final game this fall alongside our phenomenal Big Ten Network crew. If history suggests, it’s going to be another close one as our crew only calls tight games! Or as our group text thread states, #BangersOnly!

Much love and many thanks to all of you and if you’re playing in your Turkey Bowl, I fully expect to see a version of what Cal and Illinois ran for their 2-point plays last weekend or if you dare, bust out this end around from the Dolphins.

Much love,

Yogi

This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

It’s Rivalry Week out West and we have you covered at Y-Option.

USC visits the Rose Bowl for an iconic game in Los Angeles against the Bruins with stakes locally, and the postseason for both teams is on the line. Stanford heads across the Bay to visit Cal in The Big Game in what should be a packed house at Memorial Stadium as the Bears hope to clinch a bowl berth. Oregon State hosts Washington State in a game pitting two Pac-12 schools who, over the past 12 months, have navigated adversity unseen in college sports and we welcomed the man who will be the sideline analyst on The CW for the Cougs vs. Beavs, Nigel Burton, to the latest episode of Y-Option presented by our founding partner 76.

I’ve known Nigel for years, having broadcast his first game as the head coach at Portland State and was fortunate to have him as a colleague for over a decade at the Pac-12 Network. We dove into the game, both Trent Bray and Jake Dickert’s role as each school's respective head coach and what his year has been like at the CW. In addition, Nigel unearthed what it’s like to be a parent of a college football player, as his son Jace is a freshman defensive back at Nigel’s alma mater, Washington.

Jim Thornby and I thoughtfully react to the latest CFP rankings, discuss #5 Indiana visiting #2 Ohio State and a huge weekend in the Big 12. Can #16 Colorado keep it going? Will #21 ASU take the next step toward a Big 12 title berth as they host #14 BYU? Can Utah play spoiler to #22 Iowa State on Senior Night at Rice-Eccles?

I’m off to D.C. as Maryland hosts Iowa in a B1G game at 9a PST in a game that has two teams that play completely different styles of football.

There are only two weekends for the majority of fans in college football to watch your team compete. Our advice, lean into it and enjoy every moment as you’ll be yearning for football season to return in a matter of weeks once the regular season ends.

Finally, the Pullman community lost a special young man this past weekend. 13-year-old Zion Bischoff passed away in an automobile accident and his impact on so many people has been celebrated. Please consider supporting the Bischoff family as they process this tragedy by visiting their GoFundMe page, Washington State will be wearing “ZB” patches on their helmets this weekend to honor Zion, who was close with many of the coaches’ children.

Our hearts go out to his family and friends, as we lost a beautiful soul far too soon.

Much love,

Yogi

This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Every week from the West Coast we hope to bring you thoughtful conversations, insight and analysis in college football. Thanks to our founding partner 76, today we welcome a repeat guest in Oregon State head coach Trent Bray. In a season full of injuries and adversity, the Beavers head coach continues to lead his program with an optimistic and determined approach. With so many young players, I think the benefit will be seen in coming years, specifically in Year 1 of the rebuilt Pac-12 in 2026. We dive into that with Coach Bray, as well as what has been the most enjoyable and most challenging elements in the first year of his career as a head coach. 

How about Year 1 of the new look B1G?! On Saturday. the nation saw Dan Lanning’s aggressive style in full effect once again. It reminded me of Pete Carroll back in the day. To be that aggressive, you must trust that your team has the capacity to handle either side of the result. Jim Thornby and I break that down, as well as the upside down Big 12, with coach of the year candidates Deion Sanders and Kenny Dillingham.

We also dig into the Heisman, the embarrassing nonconference opponents in the SEC this weekend, Week 12’s Go Go Go Award winners presented by 76 and explore this year's matchup in the Pac-12 with Washington State and Oregon State. 

It’s Week 13 folks, let’s not miss a moment!

Much love and many thanks,

Yogi

This episode was executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Week 12 is upon us and while it may be hard to predict who will make the inaugural College Football Playoff, one thing that is relatively certain is that UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger will find his way to another double digit tackle game.

The former walk-on is leading the Big Ten Conference in tackles per game and is leading the Bruins on a resurgence in DeShaun Foster’s first season. Thanks to our founding partner 76, he shared what led him to walk on at UCLA, how his father inspired him and this team's mindset heading into their Friday night tilt against former Pac-12 turned B1G foe Washington.

Jim Thornby and I also take a deep dive into the CFP, why Oregon continues to thrive and the Washington State Cougars path to the postseason. I shared a story from USC where Pete Carroll taught me the difference between ‘hoping’ and ‘knowing’ and how the Trojans and Nebraska Cornhuskers are in a similar position heading into this weekend’s game at the Coliseum.

In addition, we discuss who needs a win more - USC or Arizona and what would have happened in the Pac-12 this season if things didn’t change after last year.

As always, thank you for the support and enjoy this weekend. I’m off to Chicago for some studio work at the Big Ten Network in what will be another competitive weekend in the game we all love.

Much love from all of us at Y-Option,

Yogi

This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren.

This podcast is a Best Coast Media production.

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.